SUBJECT: Mayor Nickels Breaks Ground for Joint Training Facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
8/11/2004 9:28:00 AM

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Mayor Nickels Breaks Ground for Joint Training Facility

SEATTLE – Mayor Greg Nickels broke ground today for the
Joint Training Facility (JTF), the first project funded by the city’s Fire
Facility and Emergency Response levy. Employees from three city departments –
the Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and Seattle
Department of Transportation (SDOT) – will train at the new site, set to open in
April 2006. The facility, located at 9401 Myers Way S., will cost approximately
$26 million, excluding land acquisition costs, and including approximately $18
million in levy proceeds.

"This is a wonderful day for the people of Seattle," said
Nickels. "This project will meet one of my most important priorities – keeping
neighborhoods safe – and will help us achieve our goal of being the
most-prepared city in America."

The Joint Training Facility’s 12.5-acre campus will
provide a training center within city limits for specialized and legally
required training for employees of the Fire Department, SPU, and SDOT. Much of
the training equipment provided at this new facility will be cross-functional.

In addition to the main building with classrooms, offices
and conference rooms, the facility will include an apparatus bay and associated
equipment storage, locker rooms, and training props – such as a six-story drill
tower, a two-story burn building, a covered woodworking and welding prop, a
collapsed building scenario prop, trench safety and rescue props, a sand throw
prop, and a heavy equipment practice area.

Architectural firm for the project is Boxwood. The general
contractor is W.G. Clark, and the city’s Fleets and Facilities Department is
responsible for project management.

The levy, passed by 69 percent of Seattle voters on Nov.
4, 2003, also provides money to renovate, expand, or rebuild 32 out of 33
neighborhood fire stations; build two new firefighting vessels and renovate a
third; and purchase equipment and supplies that will strengthen the city’s
ability to respond in an emergency.

For more information about the mayor’s public safety and
other priorities, visit his web site at
www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor's inside view on initiatives to promote
transportation, public safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by
signing up for TheNickels Newsletter at
www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm.